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Skin Exposure to Nanoparticles and Possible Sensitization Risk

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Allergy and Immunotoxicology in Occupational Health

Abstract

Due to the increased production and use of nanoparticles (NPs), there are workers and consumers that can be exposed to NPs. There is a debate among scientists to define possible effects related to this exposure and there are more open questions. The review evaluates the recent knowledge on this topic trying to classify NPs in relation to their hazard for skin exposure, both for workers and consumers. While the same kind of NPs can be safe for skin contact (such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide), others can exert a sensitization effect such as NPs that can release sensitizing metals (i.e., Ni, Pd, Co), as well as a toxic effects for NPs that can release toxic metals such as Cd or As.

Due to the high surface/mass ratio, NPs can release more metals than bulk materials, increasing the risk of skin or systemic effects after the skin contact with them. Moreover, NP size and the impairment of the skin barrier of exposed workers and consumers are crucial points to be evaluated because they both can contribute to NPs exposure and skin absorption.

Labeling is needed for NPs and products containing sensitizing or toxic metals to advise users to protect them from direct contact with the skin.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unit of Occupational Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Trieste, Via della Pietà 19, 34129, Trieste, Italy

    Francesca Larese Filon

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  1. Francesca Larese Filon
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Correspondence to Francesca Larese Filon .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hygiene, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, Japan

    Takemi Otsuki

  2. Immuntotoxicology and Allergy Unit & Occupational Biorepository, Center of Excellence on Aging and Translational Medicine (CeSI-MeT), “G. D’Annunzio” University Foundation, Chieti, Italy

    Claudia Petrarca

  3. Immuntotoxicology and Allergy Unit & Occupational Biorepository, Center of Excellence on Aging and Translational Medicine (CeSI-MeT), “G. D’Annunzio” University Foundation, Chieti, Italy

    Mario Di Gioacchino

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Larese Filon, F. (2017). Skin Exposure to Nanoparticles and Possible Sensitization Risk. In: Otsuki, T., Petrarca, C., Di Gioacchino, M. (eds) Allergy and Immunotoxicology in Occupational Health. Current Topics in Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-0351-6_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-0351-6_11

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-10-0349-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-10-0351-6

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